Display device



L. DIBRELL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed A ril 19, 1934 Jan. 12, 1937.

4 Sheets-Sheet l L. DIBRELL DISPLAY DEVICE Jan. 12, 1937.

Filed April 19; 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwuwm w m s M R Q NM J |m MM awn 1 1 I I I I I I Q m? v l .l. 1 l l l l l I I l l I l I l HIIHI I .m 1 mm 1 l NN NM mm Jam 12, 1937. D E 2,067,437

DISPLAY DEVICE Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED T ATENT orries 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in display devices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device for displaying a plurality of cards in sequence, which is arranged to be mounted in a motor bus or other vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for displaying cards carrying indicia, such as advertising and including a carrier or frame for receiving each card to be displayed which has means for releasing the lowermost card from a stack, said carrier being arranged to swing upwardly out of the way so that the card released therefrom may be swung to a vertical position to display the same, after which time the carrier is returned to the top of the stack; thereby permitting the device to be made of a minimum size and the cards displayed in a desired order.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved device for displaying cards including a carrier arranged to receive a stack of cards and cam operated means for releasing the lowermost card from the stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved card display device which includes a cam operated holder for receiving a card, said holder being arranged to swing upwardly to display the card and means for removing the card from the holder after it has been displayed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device for displaying cards which is sturdy and compact in construction, cheap and simple in manufacture and efficient in operation.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a display device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same showing the carrier in a lowered position.

Figure 3 is a similar view, showing the carrier in a raised position.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail of the card releasing means, and.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the card carrier.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates a rectangular casing or housing which has an elongated rectangular opening II in its front side. The casing may be constructed of light metal, wood, or other material suitable for the purpose, and although I have shown said casing as rectangular, it is obvious that the casing may be of any desired shape or size.

Within the casing near the lower end thereof, a carrier frame I2 is mounted. The frame has its rear end secured to a horizontal shaft 1 3 which is rotatably mounted in the sides of the casing.

When the shaft is rotated the carrier frame is swung upwardly in an arc. For swinging the carrier, a curved arm I4 is secured to the shaft at one side of the carrier and this arm is positioned to be engaged by a lug l5 mounted near the outer periphery of a disk IS. The disk is fastened on the shaft ll of an electric motor l8 and by observing Figures 2 and 3 it is obvious that as the cam IB rotates, the lug l5 engages the underside of the curved arm M to swing said arm, whereby the shaft I3 is rotated to swing the carrier frame. It is noted that the curve of the arm is on substantially the same are as the periphery of the cam, so that the lug, riding along this curved portion will hold the carrier stationary for a short time in its uppermost position Figure 3).

The carrier frame is bottomless and for holding the cards to be displayed within said carrier, a pair of sliding bars [6 are provided. These bars are mounted one on each side of the carrier and are slidable through bearing straps l1 made integral with the side of the frame. Each bar has depending curved feet l8 which extend inwardly beneath the carrier (Figs. 4 and 6). The feet are preferably mounted near the front and rear portion of each side and their ends engage the 40 lowermost card to support the stack within the carrier.

For releasing the lowermost card from the carrier, each card is provided with a pair of slots IS, in the edge of each side of the card, and 5 these slots are arranged to be registered with the curved feet l8. By observing Figure 6, it will be seen that the slots in adjacent cards in the stack are in staggered relation. With this arrangement, the feet I8 engage the underside of the lowermost card, and are not in registration with the slots of said card. When the bar I6 is slid rearwardly, the feet are registered with the slots permitting the card to fall from the stack. Due to the alternate arrangement of the slots, the feet engage the underside of the next card and are not in engagement with its slots, thereby preventing its falling from the stack until the bar is again slid forwardly.

It is clear that it is necessary to release one card each time the carrier frame makes one complete operation, that is, each time the carrier swings upwardly and returns. For sliding the bar is to release the card, said bar is provided with a pin 20 at its rear end. This pin engages in a curved slot 2! in a pivoted arm 22 which carries a roller 23 at its upper end. The roller rides on the periphery of a cam 24 mounted on a cam shaft 25, being held in constant engagement therewith by a coiled spring 23. One half of the peripheral surface 26 is of larger diameter than the remainder of the same, whereby the pivoted arm is swung in one'direction or the other at each half revolution of said cam. It is clear each time the arm is swung, the bar I6 is slidto release the next card.

Since it is necessary that the carrier frame be swung upwardly and return while the [bar is slid only once, the cam is must make one complete revolution while the cam 24 is making but one half revolution. To obtain the proper ratio a gear 21 is secured on the shaft i1 and a gear 28 is fastened on the cam shaft 25, the latter gear being twice the size of the former. Motion is transmitted from the gear 21 to the gear 28 through a chain 29. With the parts as shown in Figure 2, the carrier is in a stationary lowered position. The roller 23 on the arm 22 has just ridden onto the portion 25 of the cam which slid 'the bar l6 rearwardly. When said bar is slid, the feet i8 are registered with the lowermost card, thereby releasing the same. By this time the lug l engages the underside of the curved arm I t and the carrier is swung to its raised position. As it is raised and again lowered the pivoted arm 22 is stationary due to its roller engaging the cam 24. As the carrier is lowered to a horizontal position, the cam 24 swings the pivoted arm 22 to slide the bar l6 and release the next card.

When a card is released from the bottom of the stack it falls. onto a platform 30 which is slidably mounted on longitudinal supports 30', below the carrier. The platform has a shoulder 3| which engages the rear edge of the card, whereby sliding of the platform will slide the card forwardly. The platform has a pin 32 at the rear end of each side and each pin engages in a slot 33 in the lower end of a depending arm 33 which is secured to the carrier shaft l3. It is obvious that each time the carrier is swung upwardly the platform is slid forwardly, to slide the card, which has been dropped from the carrier, forwardly.

For receiving the card to display the same a pair of spring clips 34' are mounted on a longitudinal rock shaft 34 which is mounted at the lower front end of the casing. A rocker arm 35 is secured on said shaft and is utilized to resteam radius throughout its length. It is obvious that as the cam rotates the arm 36 is swung, the arm being held stationary during the time that the roller rides on the extended surface 40'. The lower end of said arm has a pin 4| which engages the rocker arm (Figs. 2 and 5) whereby said rocker arm is swung to rotate the shaft 34, each time the arm 36 is swung.

The cam 39 is so arranged with relation to the cam l6 that when the carrier frame is in a lowermost position the spring clips are in a vertical position (Fig. 1). Just before the carrier begins to swing upwardly the roller 38 on the arm 36 rides down the inclined side of the recess 40 swinging the rocker arm 35 and rotating the rock shaft 34. This swings the spring clips inwardly to the position shownin dotted lines in Figure 3, with the upper edge of the clips engaging the front edge of the carrier frame. Due to the recess the arm 36 continues its downward travel, the clips being supported at an angle by the frame. The card which has been displayed is still held within the clips and is at angle above the carrier.

For removing the card from said clips a pair of pivoted kicker bars M are provided. Each kicker comprises a flat bar which is bent upon itself at substantially a right angle thereto, whereby an upwardly extending leg 42 is provided. The rear end of the kicker is secured to a rotatable shaft 43 which extends longitudinally within the casing below the platform 30. The shaft has one end of an operating bar 4! fastened thereto. The other end of the shaft carries a roller 48 which rides on the periphery of a cam 49 secured on the shaft ll adjacent the cam 39. The roller is held in engagement with the cam by a spring 53 which has one end secured to the bar, 4?, and the other end fastened to one of the supports 30. The cam 89 is provided with an inclined projection 5! which engages the roller 48 to swing the bar 47 to rotate the shaft 43. This swings the kicker bar to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, and causes the upper end of said kicker bar, which is notched at M, to engage the lower edge of the card held between the clips and force said card from between the clips, permitting it to fall onto the top of the stack within the carrier frame. Due to the single projection 5!, the kicker bars are swung upwardly and are immediately returned to their lower position. Although I have shown only two kickers any desired number may be used.

As soon as the card is removed from the clips 33 .it falls onto the top of the stack in the carrier and at this time, the bar 86 is slid to release the lowermost card from the stack, as has been explained. The carrier l2 then starts upwardly and the clips 34 fall to a horizontal position, being stopped in such position in alinement with the upper edge of the platform (Fig. 3) by the rocker arm 35 engaging a stop 55. It is pointed out that at this time the roller 38 on the elongated arm 36 is traveling down the incline of the recess 40 of the cam 39.

As the clips fall to a horizontal position, the carrier is traveling upwardly and the arm 33 secured to the carrier shaft is swung to slide the platform 30 forwardly causing the card to be pushed into the slips. During this time, the clips remain lowered because the roller 38 on the arm 36 is riding on the surface 40' of the cam 39. As the shaft i7 continues to rotate, the carrier is swung to its uppermost position by the arm M which is raised by the lug I5 engaging the same. Then, while the lug [5 on the cam I6 is engaging the curved portion of the arm which is the position shown in Figure 3, said arm and carrier are held stationary. At this time the inclined surface of the cam 39 again strikes the roller 38 on the arm 36, whereby the arm 36 is again returned to its original position (Figure 2). As this arm moves to this original position, the clips which are engaging the card are swung upwardly to a vertical position and since the carrier I2 is momentarily held in its uppermost position, it will be obvious that the card held by the clip will clear the carrier. When the clips reach a vertical position, the card is displayed through the opening I I in the front wall of the casing. The carrier then swings downwardly and the action is repeated to display the next card.

It is pointed out that the cards are displayed in order, the card being taken from the bottom and returned to the top of the stack. By providing a swinging carrier as shown, it is possible to make the casing of a minimum size. There are no adjustments to be made once the cams are set properly and the casing may be suitably mounted in the front of a motor bus as shown in Figure 1, or it may be fastened in a conspicuous place in a trolley car, or other public conveyance. Although I have shown the cams as driven by an electric motor, any suitable power may be employed. The cards may carry any suitable indicia and it is obvious that a most compact, efficient advertising display is provided.

The description which has been given recites more or less detail of a-particular embodiment of the invention, which is set forth as new and useful; however I desire it understood that the invention is not limited to such exact details of construction, because it is manifest that changes and modifications may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A display device comprising, a casing, a horizontal carrier for receiving a stack of cards mounted within the casing and arranged to be swung vertically, means for releasing the lowermost card from the stack within the carrier, and means for displaying the released card.

2. A display device comprising, a casing, a horizontal carrier for receiving a vertical stack of cards mounted within the casing and arranged to be swung vertically, means for releasing the lowermost card from the stack within the carrier, means for displaying the released card, and means for returning said card to the top of the stack after it has been displayed.

3. A display device comprising, a casing having an opening therein, a horizontal carrier for receiving a vertical stack of display cards mounted to swing vertically within the casing, means for releasing the lowermost card from the stack of cards, means for swinging the carrier after the card has been released, and means for displaying the released card through the opening in the casing.

4. A display device comprising, a casing having an opening therein, a horizontal carrier for receiving a vertical stack of display cards mounted to swing vertically within the casing, means for releasing the lowermost card from the stack of cards, means for swinging the carrier after the card has been released, means for displaying the released card through the opening in the casing, and means for returning said card to the top of the stack after it has been displayed.

5. A display device comprising, a casing having an opening in its front wall, a horizontal carrier for receiving a vertical stack of cards mounted to swing vertically within the casing, cam operated means for releasing the lowermost card from the stack, means for swinging the carrier upwardly after said card has been released, and swinging means for engaging the released card to swing it to a vertical position to display the same through the opening in the front wall of the casing.

6. A display device comprising, a casing having an opening in its front wall, a carrier for receiving a stack of cards mounted to swing within the casing. cam operated means for releasing the lowermost card from the stack, means for swinging the carrier upwardly after said card has been released, swinging means for engaging the released card to swing it to a vertical position to display the same through the opening in the front wall of the casing, means for swinging the carrier downwardly to its original position after the card has been raised to a vertical position, and cam operated release means for disengaging the card from the swinging means to permit it to fall back on top of the stack after the carrier has returned to its original position.

7. A display device comprising, a casing, a horizontal carrier for receiving a stack of cards which are disposed vertically in the carrier, said carrier being arranged to swing within the casing, means for releasing a card from the stack, and means arranged to engage the released card after the carrier has been swung from thereabove for swinging said card into display position.

8. A display device comprising, a casing, a horizontal carrier for receiving a stack of cards which are disposed vertically in the carrier, said carrier being arranged to swing within the casing, means for releasing a card from the stack, means arranged to engage the released card after the carrier has been swung from thereabove for swinging said card into display position, and means for returning the card to the top of the stack within the carrier after it has been displayed.

LOIS DIBRELL. 

